It had started with Robb planning to send Cat away to wait for Ned in Winterfell even after she insisted her place was at her father's side. When she tried to make him reconsider sending Theon to deal with Balon Greyjoy he might have listened if it hadn't been for Edmure.
Robb had decided to send Cleos Frey to King's Landing with his terms. Not only was Sansa's betrothal to Joffrey at an end, but the remains of those who died in service of the Starks would be returned, as would his father's greatsword Ice. Tywin was to release his captives from the Green Fork and Robb would do the same for his from the Whispering Woods and the Battle of the Camps, save Jaime who would remain hostage. Though last had been the demand that the North and Riverlands become it's own domain, the oddest had been the return to Jon Snow to Winterfell in exchange for Willem Lannister.
"A trueborn son for a bastard is more than fair," Robb told them afterward, when it was only him and his family.
"But why would we want that traitor back?" asked Edmure. "I know you thought him a brother but he's-"
"He is my brother," Robb said firmly. "And he is surviving as best he can. If you were in his place, do you think you'd hold out, or would you bend the knee and do as they say?"
"I'd never betray my family," Edmure scoffed.
"And we should leave him there to do so? Shall we line up our army and turn our backs so they can stab them as well?"
Edmure's ire faded some. "You want to get him away from them?"
"Better then leaving them with a Stark to replace us," said Robb. In truth he sent the terms more as a test of the their willingness to come to an armistice. They had no one of worth to trade of Jaime, but if there was a chance they'd stand down and accept any of his terms he had to try. He didn't to go to war just for his own sake, he'd prefer to stand down and build a decent defense while gathering their forces for the war to come. He doubted they would accept any of his offers, but he hoped to use it as a measure of what their thinking was.
Edmure looked to Catelyn. "Good thinking, boy."
"Do not call me boy," Robb said, rounding on his uncle. "I'm almost a man grown, and a king-your king, ser." He bit back harsher comments he'd been holding back after his dismissal of Jon, but he had to play into Jon's actions. That only made him grow angrier since he couldn't release it all upon his uncle.
Instead he turned it on Catelyn when she tried to have him send someone else to deal with Balon Greyjoy. Her resistance to his command to return to Winterfell didn't help. Even remembering Jon's wariness of Theon, Robb stuck to his decision as if to spite her. She hadn't been the only one to question him, but she was the one who made him feel most like a child. He was king now and part of a plot even she couldn't be trusted with, yet she treated him like he would come running to her when he scraped his knee.
Robb had considered others, but if he was honest it felt like the Twins again. He'd considered sending Dom to the Iron Islands, but he was too valuable, not only as the Bolton heir but to Jon and now as part of Robb's inner circle. This time he wouldn't have his army surrounding them if Balon thought to hold the negotiator hostage, so couldn't risk sending people like Tytos Blackwood, Jason Mallister or Stevron Frey. The only one he thought stood a chance of not being held hostage was Balon's own son, Theon.
"That makes sense, but what if he turns?" Dom had asked when Robb brought it up with him.
"He's fought beside us this long. He saved Bran. Why would he turn on us now?"
Domeric had simply frowned at him. "Your father hasn't pressured you to obey him?" Seeing Robb look down in thought, Dom continued, "It's easy enough to ignore them when they're away. It's another to go against their will when they are before you. When your father returns, will you give your crown to him if he asks for it?"
Robb shook his head. "No. The lords gave it to me. We have a better chance of gaining allies with me wearing the crown. Even they said as much."
"Because you're here. But when Eddard returns, what then? What if he demands it?"
"What does this have to do with Theon?" Robb asked rather than answer.
"He's lived his life as a hostage. If his father offers him freedom then what's to stop him from simply staying on the Iron Islands and waiting for the war to end? Or sending his men after us if he thinks the Lannisters more likely to win and sides with them?"
"Then who should I send?"
"I can't say," Dom admitted. "Theon may work out, I only hope to remind you that even sending him doesn't guarantee his allegiance. I've tried to remind Jon of this with his aunt as well, but whenever he mentions her it was always as an ally. He forgets that others actually want the power of the Iron Throne, not just to make sure the unworthy don't have it."
That greed for a crown was one his mother had warned him of as well. "Balon Greyjoy is not a man to be trusted," she had told him. "He wore a crown himself, remember, if only for a season. He may aspire to wear one again."
"I will not grudge him that. If I am King in the North, let him be King of the Iron Islands, if that's his desire. I'll give him a crown gladly, as long as he helps us bring down the Lannisters." And he will kneel as well when Jon comes to them with his dragon and a crown his own. Let Balon play at king alongside Robb until his brother comes to take their crowns.
It was her concerns for their war effort that drove Catelyn to seek out aid from Renly Baratheon. Robb couldn't send Brynden or Edmure, but decided he would send Dom with his mother. After his part in returning his sisters to him, there was little doubt he could return Catelyn. Not only would there be Loras there to likely keep Dom safe, but should Renly still decide to hold them hostage he at least could send others to get them without needing ships.
"You also know Ser Loras from your time in King's Landing," Robb said as he told Dom of his intent. "You could speak to him, have him speak to his sister and let her convince Renly to join us."
Dom gave a small laugh. "Robb, Loras and Renly are more like to share a bed than he and Margaery."
Robb's eyes widened. "What?"
"It is a known secret," Dom explained. "It's of little concern, but if that is all you seek, speaking to Loras would be enough."
Robb looked baffled. "I'd heard rumors of it, but is he truly like that? I thought it perhaps others speaking ill of them. Sansa spoke so highly of Ser Loras, I thought perhaps to seek a betrothal for her sake."
"I imagine it's something he can't help," Dom shrugged. "Some compulsion. It's queer, sure, but once you know him you realize it matters little."
Though wary, Robb nodded. "Either way, I'd ask you use your friendship to aide my mother's efforts."
"I may not be the best choice. If I'm honest, I am just as like to greet him coolly as I am to launch myself at him."
Robb arched his brow and smirked. "I might like to see that. Though I'd ask you keep a cool head for now."
"If you think it best than I'll join her." Dom said with a nod, thinking it good if only to give him less chance of crossing paths with his father.
It would be difficult to maneuver with Jon's apparent betrayal. They couldn't reveal Jon's true nature, so had to play into it, while not allowing Loras' friendship with Jon to possibly turn them against Catelyn. When she left, Catelyn found herself hating her sister, not only for her lies and her behavior with Petyr, but for her lack of support of Robb. Whatever part it played in forcing Robb to march rather than wait in Riverrun, Catelyn would remember this when she met Lysa again.
At first she had been wary of Bolton heir who she knew to be friend to Jon, but he had also helped Sansa and Arya escape King's Landing and killed men for their sake as much as his own. It was rare for her girls to agree on anything, but both had agreed that Dom was good, so Catelyn put her faith in him to prove trustworthy.
It had been a long time before they arrived at Bitterbridge to meet Renly and his host, finding them holding a melee which ended with a knight in cobalt armor defeated Loras. While Lady Catelyn went to meet with Renly, Dom kept his distance before approaching Loras, no small part of that being his desire to stay far from Randyll Tarly lest her throttle the lord.
"They may tease you," Dom said as he found Loras' walking to his tent, "but there's no shame in such a loss."
"Dom?" Loras asked, wide eyed as he stared at the Flayed Knight. Shaking the loose armor from his arm and into his squire's hand, Loras rushed forward to embrace the man. "Thank the gods you're alive."
"Others might be as well if we'd known you were leaving," Dom said icily.
Loras stepped back with a frown. "I couldn't. Lord Stark had made his decision. He could have had our help but he turned Renly down so we fled."
"You could have-" Dom stopped himself from arguing further, shaking his head with a sigh. "It won't change anything to be angry. We got out, that's all that matters. I made sure Jon's sisters got to safety."
"Yet Jon returned to King's Landing," Loras frowned as they entered his tent, waving off his squire and pages. "We've heard he spoke ill of the Starks and even scourged his father on Joffrey's command. They say he has betrayed them to befriend Joffrey and earn his legitimacy and be given Winterfell." Relief came to Dom hearing Loras's dismissive scoff. "The fools clearly know nothing of Jon Snow."
"Aye, he's doing what he can to survive and help his family keep their heads, surely." He hated that he had to be conscious not to confirm the truth. Loras was a potential enemy and he couldn't risk him knowing for certain.
"It feels cruel to think, but I hope they keep him hostage." Loras looked somber as he sat down to remove the armor from his legs. "I'd rather not face him on the field."
"You not need to if you convince Renly to join Robb Stark," said Dom.
Loras laughed, sliding the armor off and looking to Dom. "So that why you've come? To have me try where Lady Cuntlyn will surely fail?" Seeing Dom's confusion he smirked. "Renly asked me what I knew of the Starks from my time with Jon, so I told him and he took to calling her that."
"I'd hope he doesn't slip as he speaks to the lady."
"Renly's careful," Loras assured.
"We shall see, but I doubt even the might of the Reach can win a throne alone."
"We've the Stormlands as well. We will take King's Landing and Renly shall sit upon the throne as the people wish."
"They wish him only because they think it their best option," said Dom. "They don't know the truth of matters."
Loras furrowed his brow. "And which truth is that?"
"That Renly is near as poor a choice as either of his brothers."
Loras' face hardened, rising from his seat and taking a step toward the Bolton despite not wearing any armor or weapons. "Why is that?"
Dom kept his arms crossed, unafraid of the closed distance. "Because he calls a king's mother Lady Cuntlyn."
"It is a jape." Loras scoffed. "There are worse things."
"It speaks to how little he thinks of others. It's not as if she is the only one he speaks ill of. You always have a story to tell of his thoughts on those of the court. What of the ones you haven't told us? What were his thoughts on the flayed fiend of the north and the bastard squire you took pity upon and befriended?"
Seeing Loras's gaze shift uncomfortably, Dom continued. "Why is it he never took Samwell as a guard? Surely you would have asked him before Lord Stark made the offer? It's not as if he is incapable. Is it because he thinks little of him, isn't it? He thought him a joke, same as everyone else. What good is a king who can't even see the worth of someone like Sam when someone they care for suggest they be given a chance? How can such a man ever hope to be objective when it matters?"
"Because it would be different. Him not hiring Sam is different from dealing with warring lords or the like."
"If he cannot be kind in the smallest ways than why should any trust his larger kindnesses? If he does them only for glory, then they're worthless."
"He is kind," Loras argued. "The smallfolk love him."
"They don't know him," said Dom. "They know he throws them gold at times and is charming when he wants to be, but they don't care to know how he thinks of others. How little he thinks of his own family, from his brothers to his niece. I can't imagine he'll have much good to speak of that female knight who bested you."
"And you're so perfect?" Loras scoffed.
"I'm not trying to be king."
"Why are you so against him?" Loras asked angrily. "Would you rather Joffrey sat upon the throne?"
"I'd rather someone who deserves it," Dom answered simply.
"And who better than Renly? Robb Stark? A boy raised in the North, hiding behind his mother's skirts?"
Dom sighed, his mind instantly finding his answer he couldn't speak. "Renly has done nothing for the North or the Riverlands. Robb has fought for them and won while you've barely moved."
"He's won a few battles, it doesn't make him a king."
"His lords choosing him makes him a king."
Loras laughed. "And I would be named king when I played with others as a child, that doesn't mean I can be king."
"Then neither can Renly." Dom shook his head, realizing they weren't getting anywhere. Instead he asked, "What do you want, Loras?"
"What?"
"What do you want? From all of this, what's your best hope?"
It took Loras a second to find his answer. "For us to live better lives than we would under Joffrey and the Lannisters."
"I hope the same."
"Then why are we arguing?" Loras asked somberly. He glanced to the opening of his tent before meeting Dom's gaze and saying quietly. "You know why I will never not follow him. You aren't the same. You don't care for the Starks any more than I do. Join us. We can find Jon and Sam and free them both. Renly would give them places of honor for my sake."
Dom frowned. "Even if he thinks so little of them?"
"All kings show favor for those they love."
"Aye, but why would they want to serve him when they know him? If I know how he is then so will Jon and Sam." Dom seemed sympathetic as he continued, "I know you care for him, Loras. I can't say I understand as much as I wish I could, but I do understand that you can't help who you care for more than any other man. I'd offer only that there are better men, to follow and care for. Others who deserve your loyalty more than a man who speaks ill of near everyone he knows and even while marching to likely slay his own kin, does so with reverie."
"Would you rather us a mournful march?"
"Honestly? I'd rather none of us march. I'd rather we all go back to our keeps and gather for a council, but it will never happen. So if we must then let us march knowing what we intend beyond a better life."
"And Robb intends more than that?"
Dom nodded. "Robb intends to give Westeros a true king worthy of the crown."
"He's a boy, Dom, younger than Jon even."
"And Jon would make a better king than any of them," said Dom.
Loras smiled sadly and nodded. "He might. It's a shame he isn't as Lady Catelyn fears, else I'd truly do all I could to see us support him. I might have even asked father to have Margaery wed him instead of Renly." Loras sank into a chair with a sigh. "At least then she may have more to look forward to than a crown and children born from need."
"You'd truly do that?" Dom asked tilting his head.
Loras nodded, looking to Dom. "I don't know Robb. He may be a worthy king as you say, but I know Jon. I know his kindness and care for others. I know his strength, his bravery and will which let him earn his knighthood by winning the second tourney he ever rode in."
"That same strength of will let him survive being cut down by Gregor Clegane."
Loras's eyes darkened. "It's true?"
Dom nodded. "We've heard them say the Mountain cut through his mail, slicing him open from collar to waist."
"How did he live?"
"By the grace of the gods," Dom said with a shrug. "Apparently Thoros of Myr returned to King's Landing with him, so perhaps Jon has favor with his flaming god."
Loras put his head in his hands. "I should have been there."
"As should I," said Dom. "But now we're here. Maybe Jon would have made a better king than either of ours, but we need to be smart about this. We gain nothing from them warring against each other, not while the Lannisters live. What is there to gain from killing one another? All it would do is harm our cause. Isn't it better to sheath our swords and look over everything before swinging at one another? It makes us fools helping our enemies."
Loras thought much on his conversation with Dom over the next month as Lady Catelyn joined them in riding to Storm's End to meet with Stannis. For the first time since he was a boy made squire to Renly, Loras felt plagued by confusion. His mind was aflood with thoughts which shifted enough to make him wonder if he had gone mad at times. Ultimately he still loved Renly and thought him best suited for the crown, but found himself thinking that his child with Margaery would be better.
Yet it was Dom's final questions that came to mind as he came upon Renly's pavilion and found him dead. In a flash of anger Loras found he'd drawn his sword and slashed through the throat of Emmon Cuy, who stumbled back gasping. "Brienne… killed him," he said, almost pleading that his words would be enough to halt his death.
Instead it was Dom's question which stopped Robar's death as Loras looked to the dying Ser Emmon and realized he had become the fool Dom feared. His anger sank and twisted as he looked at the blood dripping from his sword, then looked to Renly and saw his gorget had somehow been cut clear through. The slash was too clean even for someone as large as Brienne to do.
Loras fought back tears as he turned to Robar, dropping his sword. "What happened?"
"I don't know," the knight said releasing the hilt of his sword. "Lady Catelyn said it was sorcery. A shadow. Stannis' I think. Or at least his doing. She swore Brienne had no part in it, for she loved Renly."
Loras noticed Parmen Crane had fled after he struck Emmon, leaving him with Robar who looked to Emmon Cuy dying on the ground while Loras walked to Renly and cradled him. "Go get a maester," Loras said shakily. "Please."
Robar frowned and nodded. "Of course." With that he turned and left the tent.
Loras pressed his lips to Renly's forehead, finally unable to hold back his tears as he pressed his head to Renly's. "I'm sorry." Though Loras had questioned if Renly would be a great king, he felt sure he would be Loras's greatest love. There were tales of the Long Night casting the world in darkness, and that was how Loras felt now that the sun of his life had fallen. He didn't care who they sided with, but he would avenge his love.
Miles away Dom fled with the others, eventually watching Brienne of Tarth swear herself to Lady Catelyn. He wondered when her tale of a shadow slaying the would-be king became one he didn't immediately dismiss.
Like the others he'd thought at first it perhaps an assassins she simply didn't see properly, but once she explained it he reminded himself of Jon's revival and his dragon in the north. If such things were possible then he couldn't say for sure that one couldn't have a shadow slay a man. Instead he feared the person who cast the shadow. If this was Stannis' doing Dom feared what would happen should the man set his sights upon not only Robb but any of the Starks, let alone Jon who he would surely see as siding with Joffrey. He wondered if there was any hope of Robb sending him as envoy to Stannis and simply taking the false king's life.
Once they took Storm's End and many who followed Renly came to follow Stannis, Melisandre asked her lord for guidance on what Stannis might face while seizing King's Landing. Through her flames Melisandre saw only snow.